Detroit Tigers closer Francisco Rodriguez shares his experience battling the zika virus in the off-season
The world is concerned about the epidemic of the Zika virus. The U.S just passed a bill expanding their fight against it. One country that has had an outbreak of it is Brazil, where the summer Olympics are set to begin in about two months. Athletes, like Chicago Bulls center Pau Gasol, have expressed concern about Zika.
The WHO has called Zika a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern.” Even with over 150 health professionals recommending the cancellation of the upcoming Olympics, the WHO says it won’t contribute to the spread of the virus.
Detroit Tigers closer Francisco Rodriguez is going to add to those athletes with concerns about contracting Zika while participating in the Olympics. Why? He had it in the off-season.
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Rodriguez thought he had a cold at first, but as the symptoms persisted over the course of a couple of weeks, he knew something was wrong.
"“It wasn’t a cold, trust me,” he said. “It wasn’t a cold. A cold you have a sneeze, have a headache, take a couple Tylenol, and you’re done. You don’t have a cold for two weeks, you don’t have a bodyache for two weeks, you don’t have headaches, throwing up, weaknesses for two weeks."
It took Rodriguez about two months to even feel right again after recovering from the virus.
Having an athlete come out and have the virus may end up swaying some athletes one way or another about participating in the Olympics and their overall concerns about the virus. The disease is more of a concern for pregnant women or women who intend on becoming pregnant.
Rodriguez had this to say to athletes with concerns about the virus:
"“I wouldn’t blame them,” Rodriguez told ESPN.com of any athletes having second thoughts about competing. “If they have plans to have kids in the future, you’ve got to think about it. You have to be aware of that as well. You have to do some homework, some research about it.”"
Next: Dustin Ackley out for the season
Hopefully no Olympic athletes contract the virus, but hearing about one person’s battle with it is certainly eye opening.